221. My Weekly Reading for May 4, 2025
The post discusses the impact of tariffs on the economy, particularly how they affect labor and capital allocation, and examines the consequences of Chinese imports on manufacturing employment.
222. FOMC Preview: No Change to Fed Funds Rate
Bill McBride discusses expectations for the FOMC meeting, indicating no change to the Fed Funds Rate and analyzing economic projections and conditions.
223. Alternative Estimates of Output
An argument that alternative measures of output, such as GDO, provide insights into GDP discrepancies and the impact of inventory investment on economic forecasts.
224. Saturday links (closing tabs)
Scott Cunningham reflects on his experiences teaching AI, the impact of generative AI on creativity, and the evolving landscape of labor and economics in technology.
225. Party Time: Lessons from the aviation investigative process on “fact checking”
Dennis Murphy discusses the aviation investigative process and the importance of accurate information gathering in the context of public discourse and media coverage following accidents.
226. Spoiled by Success
Scott Sumner discusses the inefficiencies and failures of California's high-speed rail project, highlighting the misallocation of resources despite the state's economic success.
227. Imports Arithmetic Doesn’t Explain GDP Drop
Pierre Lemieux argues that the treatment of imports in GDP calculations is misleading and does not reflect their actual impact on economic output.
228. Warren Buffett announces his retirement and warns the trade war will hurt America
Maria Aspan discusses Warren Buffett's retirement announcement and his concerns about the impact of the trade war on America.
229. An Interview With Bobby Kogan
Paul Krugman interviews Bobby Kogan about the Republican budget plan, focusing on tax cuts and significant cuts to social programs.
230. Why do econ journalists keep making this basic mistake?
Noah Smith critiques economics journalists for consistently misreporting that imports subtract from GDP, emphasizing the importance of accurate economic reporting for policymaking.
231. Schedule for Week of May 4, 2025
Bill McBride discusses the key economic reports and events scheduled for the week of May 4, 2025, including the trade balance and FOMC meeting.
232. After paying people to leave, one federal agency is scrambling to fill positions
A federal agency is struggling to fill positions after incentivizing employees to leave, highlighting challenges in workforce management and retention.
233. May 2nd COVID Update: COVID Deaths Continue to Decline
Bill McBride discusses the decline in weekly COVID deaths and the decision to continue tracking metrics despite meeting initial goals.
234. Why it's so hard to find a public toilet
Erika Beras discusses the decline of public toilets in the U.S. and how economic and legal factors contribute to the current lack of accessible facilities.
235. US Holders of Foreign Assets, Foreign Holders of US Assets, and Exorbitant Privilege
The post discusses the dynamics of US and foreign investments, highlighting the growing gap between US assets and liabilities and the concept of "exorbitant privilege" in investment returns.
236. A Closer Look at Employment
An analysis of recent employment trends highlights the impact of transportation and warehousing sectors, federal worker status, and implications for overall job growth rates.
237. Game theory in Crazy Town
Scott Sumner discusses the absurdity of bilateral trade deficits and how the US and Europe engage in this imaginary economic narrative.
238. MAGA’s War on Science
Paul Krugman discusses the GOP's increasing hostility towards science, highlighting funding freezes and politicization that threaten American scientific research and progress.
239. Heavy Truck Sales Mostly Unchanged YoY in April
Heavy truck sales remained stable year-over-year in April, with slight fluctuations, while year-to-date sales showed a decline, indicating potential economic concerns ahead.
240. Free Trade and Economic Freedom
Meg Tuszynski discusses the negative economic impacts of Trump’s trade policies and the decline in the U.S. ranking for economic freedom and trade.